Grey skies and shorter days are approaching as winter rolls in, and with the last round of midterms and finals around the corner, Tech students may hang their heads low. But after only five minutes of looking at the ground, students will notice an array of colors — all from Adidas shoes.
Adidas has always been a name brand, especially when it comes to athletic shoes, but the resurgence of the Adidas Superstars in the mid-2010s solidified their place as a go-to brand for students. However, the Superstars are seen less and less around campus every day as three classic sneakers are making a resurgence: the Sambas, Gazelles and Spezials.
The three Adidas sneakers are similar in style, with low tops and classic Adidas stripes on each side. The difference in the three mostly lies in their origin.
The Samba was originally made for indoor soccer but slowly became an essential piece of streetwear fashion. Samba’s color options are slightly more limited than those of the Gazelle and Spezial. It still retains the sole from its original use, making it slightly more rugged — an easy shoe for those looking for something more reliable.
The Gazelle was a running shoe before making its way into mainstream style. Typically constructed in suede, some versions have a large platform sole. Offering colors from white on red to lime on baby blue, Gazelles are for everyone.
The Spezial, or “Handball Spezial,” was made for handball players. Although subtle, the Spezial has the most minimalistic design out of the three. Its suede is designed to age slightly slower than the Gazelle and Samba.
There are tons of color combinations to choose from when looking at Adidas Spezials, and Katerina Soroka, second-year CHBE, says they pair best with basic outfits. Soroka said she wears her Spezials “Mostly with jeans or jean shorts just because they’re a pop of color.”
Soroka’s Spezials are Collegiate Green with the stripes Semi-Green Spark. She pairs them with light-wash jean shorts and a red, brown and blue fleece sweater. Soroka’s friends describe her style as “granola,” or outdoorsy and modern-hippie.
For their durability, the $100 price tag for new Sambas is not overwhelming. The classic colors of the shoe are great for college students looking for a staple item. Tyler Chevalier, third-year CS, was looking for a pair of essential black shoes when he decided to purchase his Sambas. The simplicity of the shoes is helpful for Chevalier as he tries different styles.
“I’m honestly wearing a different thing every day… I haven’t figured out a style yet. I’ve just been copying what I see everywhere and Sambas work for a lot of that,” Chevalier said.
Chevalier leans into an academic style most of the time, and he styled his black Sambas with a navy argyle sweater and brown slacks. Chevalier points out that the resale price is appealing. “You can find them lightly used for way cheaper than retail, so it works out for all the broke college students out there,” Chevalier said.
Cal Price, third-year PSYCH, caught wind of the Spezial craze when he was in Europe two summers ago.
“I was abroad in Scotland, and a lot of people were wearing Adidas… it was Gazelles mostly, and some Spezials. I saw someone wearing these, and I was like, ‘those are so cool, I have to get some,’” Price said.
Price chose the Collegiate Navy and Clear
Sky Spezials because they are close to the classic black and white while still representing Tech colors. Price has also seen the rising number of Spezials around campus, and he agrees that the comfortability and practicality of the shoe make them a great purchase, but he brings up the point of brand identity.
“I think it’s not just the visual appeal of it, but it’s also the experience or the prestige of wearing it… it’s noticeable on people,” Price said.
Coordination is usually seen as an important part of outfit creation. With rules such as the “sandwich rule” (matching the top and shoes), the “2 out of 3 rule” (two out of three of the elements in the outfit are the same color), or the “rule of thirds” (the top and pants should split the body into two thirds and one third), getting dressed in the morning has become a stressful experience, but intentionally breaking these rules has become popular.
Straying away from these classic rules and palettes does not necessarily make an outfit uncomfortable. Lauren Esquivel, second-year BIOL, stands out in her white cable knit sweater, brown plaid skirt and Spezials. The dusty green and bright yellow of the shoe is unexpected. Esquivel said that the color combination was something she had never seen before. “Because they are such a random color that you kind of get to wear them with whatever,” Esquivel said.
This belief supports both outfit versatility and sustainable shopping. New shoes that align only partially with a specific style often lack long-term appeal, but an unconventional yet versatile pair can complement almost any look.